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New medications still fail to live up to healthy lifestyles, expert says

Category: Heart Health and Cholesterol

There has been a lot of talk lately about cholesterol-lowering medications. Recent breakthroughs have provided promise of major new drugs that could benefit individuals who have received unhealthy cholesterol tests. However, one expert says that the benefits of the most powerful drugs imaginable are still not as strong as simple lifestyle improvements.

Researchers recently reported in the New England Journal of Medicine on a successful clinical trial of a new medication that can boost the liver's ability to remove cholesterol from the bloodstream. This helped some patients lower their cholesterol levels by as much as 66 percent.

Cardiologist Frank Pollaro, of Georgetown University, said that these results are impressive and could represent a major advance in the treatment of high cholesterol. However, he cautioned that such medications should not be used as an excuse for unhealthy lifestyles.

"I think it's great that the research community continues its success in giving us more tools to treat high cholesterol levels," Pollaro said "Nevertheless, patients must realize that this is not a pass to sit on the couch and eat unhealthy food."